Modern eco-fabrics like soy and bamboo offer a wonderfully soft finish and convenient stretch properties that make them popular as alternatives to polyester and spandex (elastane). These sumptuous textiles are also popular for intimates like lingerie, flattering stretch tops, and flowing spring and summer skirts.

While the elasticity of soft eco-fabrics is a treat to the eyes as well as the skin, it can also give the garments a tendency to stretch. You’ll often see them marked as “delicate” or “hand wash only” — a difficult proposition in today’s fast-paced world. If you’re a fan of bamboo and soy apparel and want to help your garments last, here are some practical tips for keeping them in tip-top condition for as long as possible.

1. Wear More, Wash Less

The number one way to help your delicate fabrics last longer is simply to wash them less frequently. Of course, when we’re talking about underwear, you definitely need to wash the garments after every use! However, for things like skirts, cardigans, or even tops, it’s often enough simply to air out the piece and wear it again the next day. 

2. Take Advantage of the Delicate Cycle

When the time comes to wash the clothes, delicate stretch fabrics require special care. Rather than simply throwing them in with everything else, wash these delicate items separately with cold water on the “wool” or “hand wash” cycle, which exposes the garments to far less friction. Some brands explicitly recommend not mixing these items with other fabrics, for the reason that the other fabrics could cause them to pill.

3. Use Wash Bag with Eco-Fabrics

Aside from using the gentle cycle, wash bags are your best friend when it comes to conserving the shape of your specialty clothes. We’ve probably all had the experience of opening the machine to find that our clothes (sleeves and pant legs, especially) have all become entangled. This is something you simply can’t afford when your delicate clothes could get pulled out of shape. Instead, turn the garments inside out, soap up any smelly bits by hand, and put each garment in an individual wash bag before placing them in the machine. This is also true for lacy garments as the lace often pulls or tears in the washing machine.

4. Dry Flat, Store Flat

Gravity is your worst enemy when it comes to delicate stretch garments. To prevent stretching as your garments dry, lay them out flat or at least folded in half to minimize the force of the water weight on the clothes. When putting the dry garments away, fold them and lay them flat rather than hanging them up — as well as preventing stretching vertically, you’ll avoid those unsightly “hanger shoulders!”

5. The Effort Is Well Worth the Reward

It might take a little additional work to give your eco-fabrics the TLC they need, but you’ll find that they hold their shape and maintain their soft texture much better over time. Thinking in economic and environmental terms, you’ll also save money on replacement pieces and reduce your contribution to landfills as well.

At Faerie’s Dance, we’re all about the delight that well-made, environmentally responsible clothing can bring. And sustainable stretch fabrics add so much to the range of fashions available to conscious shoppers today. Browse our collections of bamboo men’s underwear and sustainable women’s clothing to discover sumptuous soft stretch styles today.

Breastfeeding is a natural part of motherhood, where you and your baby will create a bonding journey together. It can both be stressful and exciting, especially for first-time moms. You may be confused about where to start and the possible problems you might encounter. At the same time, you are looking forward to that bonding experience you may have with your baby. You are not alone because almost all mothers go through these conflicting feelings.

Every breastfeeding experience is unique, but an efficient way to handle your worries is to be prepared. We compiled some of the best breastfeeding hacks to help you get through your breastfeeding experience.

1. Choose a breast pump based on your needs.

Choose a breast pump that best fits your needs and lifestyle. Read on customer reviews, brand reputation, and warranty. You can also check if parts and accessories are BPA-free. Toxic chemicals, such as BPA are associated with possible health effects. BPA has been linked to reproductive, neurological, and immunity problems, especially in infants and children.

Consider if the pump is easy to use, portable and adjustable. You can look into brands like Ameda Mya, Medela, and more.

You may also want to consider the Haakaa manual breast pump that uses natural suction to catch your milk. It doesn’t need batteries, and you don’t need to plug it in. Simply attach it to your breast, and it catches the milk into its container. It’s perfect for when you’re nursing your baby on one breast, and you’re leaking on the other.

2. Prepare a breastfeeding area or a breastfeeding kit.

Instead of running around looking for things while your baby is hungry or crying, it’s best to have a space where you already have all your breastfeeding essentials. You can also choose to have a box or a basket with all your essentials ready to go. Here are a few things you can prepare in your breastfeeding station or kit:

• Washable cloth baby wipes
• Reusable nursing pads
• Burp cloth
• Water bottles
• Snacks
• Ice pack
• Nipple cream
• Nipple shields
• Breast pump
• Breastfeeding pillow

3. Get an ethically-made organic nursing bra.

You don’t just want to look at style and comfort in choosing a nursing bra. You also have to consider the material used to help determine its sustainability and durability. As you consider your options, look for non-toxic fabrics made under sustainable and ethical conditions. An ethically made, organic cotton bra is a good example.

4. Keep hydrated and well-nourished.

As you give your baby nourishment, you need to be healthy too. What you eat and drink will affect your breastmilk supply, your energy, and your baby’s health. It is recommended you drink 16 cups of water per day. Load up on superfoods perfect for lactating moms, such as organic brown rice, spinach, salmon, sardines, legumes, beans, oats, and more.

5. Ask for support or take a breastfeeding course.

Sometimes a part of motherhood is the feeling of being supported and encouraged. Reaching out for help is okay and even necessary at times. Instead of trying to learn everything on your own, ask for guidance or look into a breastfeeding course. It can help you address your situation better. Reaching out to a lactation consultant may also be a good idea, especially on health-related concerns such as mastitis and thrush.

As you go through your breastfeeding journey, keep in mind that it’s a learning process. It may take a lot of trial and error until you figure out what works for you and your baby.

With February 14th right around the corner, it might just be time to spruce up the lingerie drawer. At Faerie’s Dance, that means a chance to splurge on some cute, eco-friendly lingerie that’s as gentle on your skin as it is on the planet.

This Valentine’s Day, consider spicing things up with some luxuriously-soft, beautifully-designed underwear from our featured sustainable lingerie brands to boost your confidence and help you feel your best. With eco-friendly fabrics and a super-soft finish, these organic bras and organic women’s underwear are filled with love from start to finish!

Our Favorite Sustainable Lingerie Brands

Xylem Clothing

Possibly the most sensual sustainable lingerie brand on the block, Xylem is an Oregon-based family business that focuses on creating intimate, eco-friendly lingerie. Their bras, panties, nighties, and tees gracefully accentuate your curves with comfortable bamboo that is grown sustainably, and silky-soft, reclaimed soy fibers that gently stretch for a perfect fit.

For a steamy Valentine’s underwear combo, we recommend their drop-dead gorgeous soy lace thong and matching soy lace bralette or their provocative soy lace cheeky panty and matching soy lace cami bra. Both of these options are adorned with lace that is ultra-cute and non-itchy on the skin!

Pants to Poverty

Britain-based Pants to Poverty showcased a manufacturing alternative that could reverse poverty in the poorest areas of the world while providing food, clothing, and education for tribal farmers and their families. While the experiment has now ended, the results are leading the way for Fair Trade analysis and production in the garment industry. Faerie’s Dance is grateful to have their last batch of colorful, eco-friendly lingerie in stock now. Grab a fun pair of “pants” (British for undies), and celebrate the strides in sustainable manufacturing they’ve helped create. In addition to being organic and Fair Trade, these pieces were made with the use of water-saving drip irrigation and low carbon emission factories.

If you’re a fan of upbeat prints and cheeky cuts, we think you’ll love their women’s briefs and men’s organic underwear which are made from 100% organic cotton and look like your regular fashion underwear. For the ladies, our Valentine’s picks are their hot-pink Love Thong with a print featuring tiny hearts or their Fashion Revolution thong and cami for an explosion of eye-catching color. For the men, we love their jet-black M’s Poverty Fighter Briefs and their suave, blue-lined Grey Marl Tank top — because who says men can’t have lingerie on V-Day, too!

Peau-Ethique

After two sustainable lingerie brands for the daring, we have the elegant and very feminine French brand Peau-Ethique (roughly translated to “Skin-Ethic”) for those who like more classic designs. Made from organic cotton, their lovely bras, beautiful briefs, and luxuriously comfortable pajama sets have been produced with fair-trade practices, low-impact dyes, and no chemical processing. Their eco-friendly lingerie line also features feminine details like miniature bows and subtle prints that provide the ideal aesthetic for sweet, earth-conscious ladies who want to shop with integrity. The result is a skin-friendly finish that makes your body and soul sing. 

For the perfect Valentine’s Day eco-friendly lingerie combination, we love their Sublime collection with its range of chic, retro-style lace-and-bow thongs, high-waisted briefs, corsets, and bras. A more mainline option for the conservative and shy is their pretty pink Eva bikini or thong with the matching Eva underwire demi bra. No matter which of their designs take your fancy, you can be assured that these undergarments are as ethical as they are attractive with organic cotton, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and fair trade certifications to back up the brand’s claims. Peau-Ethique’s stunning underwear shows that “eco-friendly really can be beautiful!”

Love Nature

Love Nature offers eco-friendly lingerie for the free-spirited woman who appreciates intimate day and nightwear that is feminine at its essence and features subtle touches of whimsy. Made from organic cotton, this sustainable lingerie brand’s elegant latex-free lace panties, sumptuous push-up bras made with cotton foam instead of polyurethane, flowing cotton nightgowns, and dreamy pajamas are sure to evoke a sense of wonder and delight.

This Valentine’s Day, wrap yourself in beauty with Love Nature’s cherry-licious Princess brief and matching Alba No Wire Support Bra for an underwear set that will enhance your natural glow. Their Sweet Sport Brazilian panty and matching Sweet Sport no wire bra combine an athletic look with a delicate touch of pink lace—a sure winner for active women who’d like to add a dash of pretty for this romantic occasion.

Do You Green

The last of our sustainable lingerie brands and one of our personal favorites, Do You Green is a small French company that produces eco-friendly lingerie from white pine tree trimmings. They collect this pesticide-free source material in cooperation with tree trimming companies and combine it with a small amount of spandex to create a fabric that is velvety-soft with a nice amount of stretch. The gorgeous colors featured in their men’s and women’s underwear are achieved using OEKO-Tex certified dyes that have passed stringent standards in relation to their impact on health and the environment.

Reduce landfill waste and turn up the romance this Valentine’s Day with their stormy-blue Amsterdam Shorty Thong and matching no wire padded bra. For the guys, we love their smooth, fly-free pine tree boxer brief in sensual black. Best of all, Do You Green’s sizzling, eco-friendly lingerie comes wrapped in paper envelopes with no plastic!

Spending This Valentine’s Day Alone?

With all the focus on couples and romance, swinging it solo on Valentine’s Day can feel like a bit of a downer. At Faerie’s Dance, we believe in living your best and most joyful life no matter if you’re happily partnered or scintillatingly single. This Valentine’s treat yourself to some eco-friendly lingerie just because you’re awesome and give yourself some self-love with our soy and bamboo bath and spa accessories. 

Save the Planet in Style at Faerie’s Dance

As you’ve seen with our sustainable lingerie brands, eco-friendly lingerie can be cute as well as environmentally conscious. Shop our organic women’s and sustainable men’s clothing today and get free US shipping on orders over $99.

Imagine if you will, a lacy, sexy, panty, ethically made from sustainable materials, that actually sits high on the waist, covering your belly and making you feel retro gorgeous like Marilyn Monroe. It’s not a fantasy! These elusive high-waisted, organic cotton panties actually exist!

When jeans went low-rise more than a decade ago, so did panties. As a middle-aged woman, wearing undies that accentuated my pooch belly did not make for a happy time for me. But over the last few years, high-rise panties have returned with a vengeance, and gone green! Performers like Ariana Grande (left) and Beyoncé (bottom) have shown off their figures in high rise panties, pushing this retro revival forward.

The eco-friendly version of this movement is primarily being spearheaded in Europe, with companies like Swegmark of Sweden, and Peau-Ethique in France showcasing high-waisted panties made from organic cotton and certified Fair Trade. Peau-Ethique even went one step further, making a retro high-waisted panty with an attached garter belt for extra sass. At the start of this trend, we got a humorous, thoughtful write-up from Girly Girl Army about our high-waisted Infinite Support Brief.

More recently, San Francisco-Paris collaboration brand, Les Lunes, released the simple, but ultra-flattering, Anything But Basic High-waisted panty made from a luxurious bamboo fabric. It has less “support” and tummy control than the Swegmark panties and a bit less pizzazz than the Peau-Ethique options. Instead, it comes in at a lower price and has a silky texture surpassing the other options in comfort and barely-know-its-there wearability.

With so many luxury, ethical, sustainable options available, even the most dedicated low-rise fan might want to grab a retro high-waisted panty for under their favorite skirt or dress. What would you choose: flirty lace, tummy-controlling support, barely-there bamboo or a simple organic cotton basic made right here in Oregon? Whatever you decide, we think the retro indulgence of high-waisted panties is back to stay.

Hey Folks, it’s long past time for a giveaway from your favorite eco-fashion boutique!  This month we’re giving away an intimates set from our own in-house brand, Green Tree Organic Clothing.  Up for grabs is the organic cotton Trista Cami with Bra (shown left) in your choice of black or white PLUS any one of Green Tree’s organic cotton women’s underwear.  We’ve got 7 panty styles to choose from in sizes ranging from XXS – 3XL.

Here’s a little TWIST: the more people that enter, the more sets we’ll give away!  We know you’re sometimes reluctant to share a giveaway because it lowers your chances of winning.  But we’re setting the chance of winning at 1 in 50 people or less, guaranteed.  So if we get more than 50 individual people entering, we’ll give away 2 sets, more than 100 people, 3 sets, etc.  So share away!

We need your help to keep bringing in the finest organic bras and lingerie from around the world.  So please spread the word about sustainable clothing and lingerie, and tell your friends and family about FaeriesDance.com.

About the Prize(s)

Each winner will receive 1 Trista Cami with Bra and 1 Green Tree Organic brand panty in the color and size of their choice.  Options include:

1. Eat Organic Panty (printed bikini style, XS – XL)
2. Heart’s A’flutter Panty (printed bikini style, XS – XL)
3. Organic Hipster Brief (XS – XL)
4. Lace Waist Low Panty (XS – XL)
5. Organic Bikini Panty (XXS – XL)
6. Organic Full Brief (S – 3XL)
7. Organic Hi Cut Brief (XS-XL, our most popular style!)

The prizes are shipped at our expense.  The winners will have the option of adding on any other products they would like to purchase from us at no shipping charge. After the contest ends, each person entering will receive a special discount code by e-mail for any Green Tree Organic brand products.  This discount is exclusive to contest participants.

All of Green Tree Organic’s products are made locally in Oregon. We design and pattern in Portland. All cutting and sewing is done in Stayton. We get our internal tags from a company in Portland. The printed panties, Eat Organic and Hearts A’flutter, are printed using water-based inks by a woman-owned printer in Portland.

Our fabric is a 95% Organic Cotton, 5% Spandex blend and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified.  All of the panties listed above, as well as the Trista Cami, are made from this certified organic cotton fabric.  We source the fabric from a small, family-owned company in India. It’s knit and dyed local to where the cotton is grown.

About Faerie’s Dance

Since 2005 Faerie’s Dance has been a force for good in the fashion world.  We support small, sustainable businesses, many of them are women-owned or family-owned.  All of our products are ethically produced providing living wages to the workers that make them both here in the USA and abroad. No sweatshops or child labor are ever involved in the making of our goods.   We currently offer more than 1200 sustainable items in our store including organic, natural fiber and recycled clothing, accessories and jewelry.  Find out more about our philosophy and our funny name as well as our generous charity policy.

How to Enter

Enter the contest using the form below.  You can get extra entries by visiting our social media pages and sharing this contest.

Our final episode in the 10-part “Finding Your Perfect Organic Bra” series deals with special occasion bras. These are bras you may not wear every day, but you definitely want to have one or two in your wardrobe.  From glamorous Swarovski crystal embellished bras for weddings and special date nights, to workout bras, to nursing bras, this video highlights beautiful, organic bras for every occasion.

We also forgot to mention strapless bras or bandeau bras. Our current selection of strapless and bandeaus is pretty slim.  We’ve had a number of options in the past, but they tend to be short-run lines that we cannot restock.  Of course, we’re always looking for new organic bras.  Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of any of our eco-fashion pages to get regular updates on new items that come in.  We only send e-mails once per month, so you won’t be overwhelmed by too much e-mail.

The specific bras shown in this video include:
• Jeweled Organic Triangle Bra (S-L)
• Mia Bra Top (S-L)
• Evette Halter Bra (XS-L)
• Katherine Sports Bra (34B-42D)
• Bamboo Sports Bra (S-L) – mentioned, but not shown
• Nursing Bra (36C-40E)

All of the bras shown in these videos, plus many others can be found in Faerie’s Dance’s Bra Department.

As always, thanks to Dr. Kayla Luhrs from for modeling for us for all these weeks.

And most of all, thank YOU for watching!

In this penultimate video in our Find Your Perfect Organic Bra series, we address camisoles with bra liners. These are full-length camisole options that have built-in bras to keep you cool in summer and offer a warm layering piece in winter without the extra bulk of a separate camisole and bra.

The “typical” bra-lined camisole has an internal shelf-style bra for light support and modesty.  We show one in organic cotton and one in bamboo though we have a number of others at FaeriesDance.com under Camisoles.  The last one we show, Cateline, is rather unique as it’s a camisole with shaped, padded cups.  Since No Wire Padded Bras are our most requested bra style, Cateline offers another option for those looking for that specific type of bra.

The bra-lined camisoles shown in this video include:
• Trista Cami with Bra (XS-XL)
• Bamboo Cami with Bra (S-XL)
• Cateline Padded Camisole (S-L)

As always, thanks to Dr. Kayla Luhrs from MoonCycleMedicine.org for modeling.

We’re back from vacation and ready to continue our 10-part organic and natural fiber bra series.

Today we’re discussing a specialty line of Allergen-Free Bras that are 100% organic cotton, spandex-free, latex-free, dye-free, and chemical-free. These bras have been medically tested to reduce rashes and inflammation caused by eczema and dermatitis.  There are several different styles to fit a variety of body shapes while still providing light support, modesty and most importantly, rash-free comfort.

Of the ones we show in the video, the Side-Tie version runs a little larger than the Front Close version in the same size.  We’ve had several customers tell us this as well.  While the Side-Tie doesn’t fit Kayla well since we don’t have the correct size for her, it’s actually a very popular style for women with C cups and above as it provides a little more coverage than any of the other Allergen-Free bras.

Here are the specific bras mentioned:
• Allergen-Free Slimfit Bra (4-7)
• Allergen-Free Side-Tie Bra (34B-42DD)
• Allergen-Free Front Close Bra (34B-38C)
• Allergen-Free QUEEN Front Close Bra (40C-44D)
• All Cotton Bra Liner (sizes 5-10)

If you do have allergies or skin sensitivities, feel free to contact Dr. Luhrs to discuss treatments as well as wellness plans at MoonCycleMedicine.org

Learn more about organic cotton, natural and sustainably produced bras. In this 10-part video series, we discuss bra fit, seaming, styles and features.

Episode 7 takes a quick look at Underwire Bras without padding. Underwire bras overall tend to give you more support than no wire bras, and the underwire gives a distinct shaping.  The shape of an underwire bra without padding can be quite different than a similar style with padding.  The padding tends to mask your own natural breast shape, while the underwire without the padding will highlight your personal shape.  The seam design, whether vertical, horizontal or seamless, has a much bigger impact on your overall look when wearing an underwire bra without padding.  So seam style is definitely something you’ll want to test to see what works best for your particular body and shape.

If you’re concerned about any connections between underwires and breast cancer, please check out last weeks post on Padded Underwire Bras.  We address that issue both in the description and in more detail in the video.

Here are the specific bras mentioned:

• Sublime Demi Bra (32A – 36D)
• Elegance Underwire Bra (30A – 36D)
• Seamless Underwire Bra (S – L)

You can also fine the other bras and matching panties in the Sublime line.

Please visit Kayla’s community nonprofit website Moon Cycle Medicine to get whole-life wellness information. Kayla is a board-certified medical doctor.

Want to know more about organic cotton and natural fiber bras? In this 10-part video series, we discuss bra sizing and fit, different bra styles and what features to look for in a natural fiber or fully organic cotton bra.

Episode 5 looks at No Wire Bras with modesty padding. No Wire Padded Bras are our most requested bra style. They are the hardest bras to find in organic and natural fabrics, but we do have a few gems.  There are basically two types of No Wire Padded Bras, those with integrated padding sewn directly into the cups, and those with removable pads that sit inside “pockets” sewn into the bra.  The integrated padding kind tend to have better shaping while the removable padded kind are a bit more versatile, allowing you to wear the bra without the pads when they aren’t needed.  This is a particularly nice weekday/weekend bra option.

Unfortunately all of the No Wire Padded Bras we carry have either nylon or polyester foam as their inside padding.  We’ve actually discussed this back in 2014 in the post, The Elusive No Wire Padded Bra.  While we have found more options in the No Wire Padded category, the basic premise of that post, bras can have eco-padding and underwire or conventional padding and no wire, remains true today.

The specific bras mentioned in this video are:
• Yvonne Wireless Padded bra in organic cotton (32A – 38C) Kayla is wearing a 34B
• Body No Wire Padded Bra in pine tree fabric (32A – 36C) Kayla is wearing a 34C
• Adjustable Soft Bra in bamboo (S-L) Kayla is wearing a M
• Laura’s Bra in bamboo, mentioned in the video as a smaller, sleeker option to the Adjustable Soft Bra, still with removable pads

You can get also whole life wellness information from community nonprofit Moon Cycle Medicine.